OFFICE OF THE
DIRECTOR
The Office of the Director includes eight offices within the State Hygienic Laboratory that provide specialized organizational services across the laboratory. These offices are: Genomics, Human Resources, Information and Technology, Iowa Laboratory Appraisal Program-CLIA, Organizational Development, Public Policy, Research and Development, and Strategic Communications.

Information and Technology

The Office of Information and Technology supports a complex set of networks providing comprehensive IT services to the three Hygienic Laboratory locations. IT supports the around-the-clock laboratory operations, including testing in clinical care, environmental and emergency preparedness. As part of the state of Iowa’s continuity of operation plans, the Hygienic Laboratory maintains redundant enterprise infrastructure equipment and services at the Coralville and Ankeny facilities.

The Hygienic Laboratory is regulated by many national and state agencies, each with their own data security and confidentiality requirements. These include Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, EPA and CDC. To be compliant with mandated rules and regulations from such agencies, IT operates a rigorous set of security protocols, including firewalls, encryption, controlled access and monitored surveillance systems.

This office leads several efforts at the state and national level to improve the way information flows through automated electronic data exchange.

Major achievements:

  • Completed a multi-year project with Iowa Department of Public Health to electronically deliver all laboratory results of “public health significance.” Because of this program, public health intervention can begin sooner, ongoing exposure is reduced, and infections and subsequent illnesses are minimized. Through collaborations with Association of Public Health Laboratories, CDC and other agencies, the Hygienic Laboratory developed the uniform capabilities to deliver results when testing suspicious substances and clinical isolates.
  • Designed and developed applications unique to public health laboratories such as the Laboratory Information Management System. This collaborative work with several state public health laboratories created an open source enterprise system that integrates various disparate systems, enhancing the efficiency of both the Hygienic Laboratory and its clients.